18-34 year-olds are more likely to feel lonely more often and to worry about feeling alone.
Photograph: Marco_Piunti/Getty Images/iStockphoto

An ageing and more transient population, and changes to the way we make social connections, are responsible for more lonely people than ever before.

Amongst older people, rates of chronic loneliness have remained steady since the 1940s, with 6-13% of people over the age of 65 reporting they feel lonely “all or most of the time” according to the ONS. 18-34 year-olds are more likely to feel lonely more often, to worry about feeling alone, and to feel depressed because of loneliness than those over 55, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

If you experience loneliness or social isolation, or work for a charity or service, we’d like you to share your experiences with us using the form below. We’ll use a selection of responses in our reporting.

• In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14.